VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Shoppers wearing face masks to protect against COVID-19 walk along a boulevard in Paris on Dec 20, 2021. (File photo: AP/Michel Euler) - 

COVID-19 infections in France hit six figures on Saturday (Dec 25), health officials recording 104,611 cases over the previous 24 hours, the third consecutive day the numbers have been record highs.

The latest figures, from France's public health agency, come ahead of a video-conference meeting Monday in which President Emmanuel Macron and key members of his government will discuss new Covid safety measures.

Officials are concerned about the effect of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

Already on Friday, the health authority recommended adults receive a booster jab three months after their initial vaccination.

Now the government is moving to make the health pass issued to the vaccinated valid only if people accept the booster jab.

The pass is required for access to cafes, restaurants and public spaces, as well as for international travel.

Some regions have already enacted their own safety measures.

At the end of last month, for example, officials in Savoie reintroduced the compulsory wearing of masks, not just in indoor public spaces, but outdoors too - a move just adopted in neighbouring Italy.

The latest figures mark a dramatic rise since the beginning of the month: on Dec 4, the numbers broke 50,000 for the first time before rising steadily.

To date, France has recorded 122,546 deaths from the coronavirus. So far, 76.5 percent of the population is fully vaccinated//CNA

People wearing face masks walk in the street, as the region of Lazio makes face masks mandatory outdoors in all areas, as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases rise and Christmas nears, in Rome, Italy, December 23, 2021. REUTERS/Yara Nardi - 

Italy reported a third successive record tally of COVID-19 cases on Saturday (Dec 25), with new infections hitting 54,762 against 50,599 a day earlier, the health ministry said.

The number of coronavirus-related deaths rose to 144 from 141 on Friday.

Italy has registered 136,530 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last year, the second highest toll in Europe after Britain and the ninth highest in the world.

It has reported 5.57 million cases to date.

Patients in hospital with COVID-19 - not including those in intensive care - stood at 8,892 on Saturday, up from 8,812 on Friday.

There were 106 new admissions to intensive care units, against 102 on Friday. The total number of intensive care patients increased to 1,071 from a previous 1,038.

Some 969,752 tests for COVID-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with a previous 929,775 the health ministry said//CNA

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno (ANTARA PHOTOS/M Ifdhal/my) - 

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno stated that education and literacy on disasters must be improved so that people are ready to address the catastrophes.

"Disaster mitigation is not only supported by technology, but must also be followed by an increased awareness," he said in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province, on Sunday.

The statement was made during an event to commemorate 17 years of deady eathquake and tsunami that rattled the province which lies on the northern tip of Sumatra Island on December 26, 2004.

The convening of the event was centered at the parking lot of Ulee Lheue Port in Banda Aceh. Among the attendants of the event were Aceh Governor Nova Iriansyah, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Deputy Speaker of People's Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani, House of Representatives Member Fadhlullah, TA Khalid, Deputy President Commissioner of Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) Dr. TGB Muhammad Zainul Majdi, and people from Aceh regional leadership coordination forum.

He pointed out that the tsunami which struck the Indonesian province and 14 other countries had resulted in the deaths of around 230 thousand people.

The existence of technology tools, including those related to the earthquake and tsunami early warning systems, offer knowledge and time for the public to be ready to seek protection and minimize the impacts of disasters, he remarked.

He stressed that efforts to prepare for disaster must be fostered together so that everyone can practice resilience in surmounting them.

"I compel everyone to campaign for the public to be aware of disaster mitigation," Uno reminded.

He also appealed to the people at large to increase the spirit of solidarity in the midst of many disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the public awareness of disaster mitigation, which would create resilient communities, could be strengthened. 

The commemorative event of the Aceh tsunami in Ulee Lheue was also followed with prayers and remembrance of those falling victim to the deadly catastrophe. The prayers were led by two Muslim preachers -- Zamhuri Ramli and Faizal Adriansyah.

The event organizer also conducted a grave visit, donations to orphans, a tsunami photo exhibition, awards for the caretakers of the tsunami site, and collaborative performances//ANT

Photo archive. A staffer collected data on a student before getting vaccinated in Kendari Health Office, Southeast Sulawesi, on Saturday, December 11, 2021. (ANTARA PHOTOS/JOJON/my) - 

As many as 265,147 residents of Kendari or about 75 percent of the city's eligible target population for COVID-19 vaccination have received their first dose of the vaccine, according to a local health official.

Data from the Kendari Health Office demonstrated that as of Sunday, some 200,902 people or 75.77 percent of the 265,147 recipients had obtained the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine while 129,690 others had fully been vaccinated.

"The second dose (of vaccination) has been administered to 48.91 percent of the 265,147 recipients," Head of the Kendari Health Office Rahminingrum said in Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi Province, on Sunday.

She said that those getting vaccinated include human resources in the healthcare sector, public servants, elderly citizens, vulnerable people, workers, and teenagers.

A total of 4,151 people in the health care sector have been targeted for the vaccination program. In fact, as many as 5,690 people, or 137.08 percent of the target have received the first dose of vaccine while 5,229 recipients or 125.97 percent of the total number of vaccine recipients have obtained the second one.

The number of healthcare workers who had received the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was 3,414 people or 82.25 percent of the target, she said.

There were 37,810 public servants who were targeted for vaccination. The first dose of vaccination has been administered to 48,131 people, or 127.3 percent of the target, and the second dose of vaccination has been given to 33,119 people, or 87.59 percent of the target.

A total of 11,060 people, or 64.91 percent of the 17,040 elderly citizens who get targeted for the vaccination program have received the first dose of vaccine while 7,129 or 41.84 percent of the vaccine recipients had got the second dose of vaccine.

As for the general public and vulnerable groups, the authorities had set a target of vaccinating 170,409 people. A total of 105,306 people, or 61.8 percent of them, had received the first dose of vaccination, and 63,050 people or 37 percent of the vaccine recipients have received their second dose of vaccine.

For teenagers, the first dose of vaccination had been jabbed to 30,715 people or 85.95 percent of the targeted 35,737 teenagers, and the second dose of vaccination had been administered to 21,163, or 59.22 percent of the target.

Rahminingrum compelled the residents who have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccine to immediately get inoculated, so that they would have stronger defense against COVID-19.

She also reminded everyone of the importance of complying with the health protocols, even after undergoing vaccination.

"Stay disciplined (in applying) health protocols so that we can really escape out of this COVID-19 pandemic," she said//ANT